Game apparatus.



L. G. JERRAM, E. E. GLUCK & G. HENSLE.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION mm mu: 4. m5.

Patented June 20, 1916. F I 1 rram. E'E GZuak 640 a Nana 6 ATTORNEYS IA MIAMI 00-. murmur-non. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD G. JEBBAM, EMIL E. GLUCK, AND GEORGE HENSLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Y GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEONARD G. JERRAM, a subject of the Kin of Great Britain, and Earn. E. GLUCK an Gnonca I'IENSLE, both citizens of the United States, and all residents of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved (lame Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide an apparatus of the character mentioned for furnishin amusement and introdncing an amount of skill incident to a contest between players of the game wherein the apparatus is used; to provide an apparatus of the character indicated, which is attractive in a pearance and simple in construction; an to provide an apparatus which may be stored within small compass.

Drawings-Figure 1 is a top view of an apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, being adapted to playing a game in simulation to the game of baseball. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, the section being taken as on the line 2-8 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective, showing the target butt and means for maintaining the operating position thereof; and Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective, showing a missile or 1projectile used in the game herein (lBSCIiiJGt [)csmiptiom-As seen in the drawings, a fiat field board 9 has imprinted thereon, a number of areas. These areas have *roupcd significance and are each designated in the drawings by characters common to the group. Thus each of the areas designated by the letter A indicates by color, form or by having printed direction thereon, that when the missile 10 comes to rest thereon, the play indicated is a wild pitched ball. The indicated move of the men on the bases is then an advance, one base as provided in the usual rules appertaining to the game of baseball.

The areas designated by the letter B indicate a wild pitched ball with the further indication that a runner between 1st base and 2nd base, is out at 2nd base.

The group of areas designated by the letter C signlfics that the batter has been caught out. If the areas designated by the letter C are in the spaces marked by the word Foul, it would indicate that the batter is put out by a foul fiy having been caught. If the areas marked C are in the space designated as 1 base hit, it would designate that the batter was put out by having an infield fly caught. If the area thus marked is in the space designated by the words 2 base hit, the play would indicate the result of a fly having been caught by a fielder.

The group of areas designated by the letter D is contained within the space designated by the words 1 base hit, or what is known as the infield. The spaces thus designated indicate the play as Batter-out sacrifice.

The group of areas designated by the letter E indicates a total play with the batter out and a runner out at 2nd base. The areas designated by the letter F indicate in the play, a double play with the batter out and a runner out at 3rd base. The group designated by the letter G indicates a double play with the batter out by reason of a lly bull being caught and the runner out at home pilate. The group designated by the letter indicates in the game that the batter is out on a fly and is credited with a sacrifice, the runner passing one base as in the conventional or field ame.

The field board 9 is divided by lines designated by the numerals 11,12, 13. 14,15,111 and 17, which lines divide the hold board into areas indicating the play of the pitcher and the batter. Thus the area at the upper end of the board behind the line 11 indicates that the pitcher is charged with a ball. The areas forward of the line 11 also portain to the play of the batter and the play is indicated by the words, Foul 1 base hit, 2 base hit, 3 base hit, Home run. When the missile 10 in the course of the play rests in any of these spaces and not upon one of the danger areas thereon, the

batter is credited with the indication inscribed on the space.

In playing a game, a butt 18 is employed. The butt 18 is preferably a board pivotallv mounted on the field boa rd 9 and preferably by means of a foot plate 19, with which it is connected by a hinge pin 20. The foot plate 19 is held in service position by pins 31 extended into or through the board 5). The butt 18 is maintained in its vertical position, as best shown in Fig. oi. the d|'u\\ ings,by a coil spring 3'2, the ends of said spring being arranged to normally dispose the butt 18 in the position shown in the drawings. It will be understood, however, that when desired, the butt 18 may be folded back against the board 9. when the board is stored or its use discontinued momentarily or permanently. The butt 1% is provided with a centrally disposed opening 225, which is a target at which the missile 10 is aimed when playing the game.

The missile 10 is constructed from any suitable material and preferably in the shape as best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The missile 10 is intended to be thrown from a position at the outer edge of the board 9, using for this purpose. a gun 2+. The gun 2-1: is mounted upon a pedestal .25, which is held in position on the hoard 9 by pins 26, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The gun 24 is held in position on the said pedestal in a socket provided therefor to receive a ball :27, with which the gun is furnished. Within the barrel of the gun, a plunger 28 is disposed normally advanced by an expansion spring 29. At the rear of the gun and projection beyond the panel thereof. the plunger '28 is provided with a knob 30. whereby the plunger may be retracted to permit the missile 10 to drop through the panel of the gun to a lowered position to be subsequently violently ejected therefrom when the operator releases the knob 30 and permits the spring 29 to violently expand.

The field board 9 is surrounded on three sides by barriers. At the back end of the board, a relatively high back stop panel 31 is flexibly or pivotally attached to the board 9. Normally the panel 31 is held in service position by the overlapping edges 32 of the side barriers 33, as seen best in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be understood that when the board is not in use and when it is desired to store the same, the panel 31 and barriers 33 are folded over on the board 9 to occupy as little space as possible. Preferably when the board and parts connected therewith are disposed in this manner, the butt l8, gun 24 and mountin therefor are removed from the board 9, an independently stored.

0pe1'at'i01i..-To play the game with an apparatus constructed and arranged as described, the butt 18 is placed in position. The gun 24 and mountings therefor are then placed in position. The game is usually played as a contest between two persons or two groups of persons. The side first at the bat having been determined, the person or persons constituting the other side proceeds to operate the gun 24 in firing the missile 10 at the butt 18. The object of the person operating the gun is to drive the missile 10 through the opening 23. When this is done, a strike is declared against the batter. As in the conventional game, three strikes puts the batother hand, the missile butt 18, passes the same, 31 to fall dead in the space designated by the word Ball and between the panel 31 and the lines 11. It the missile does not roll or otherwise stop in either of the danger areas A or 13, the play represents a ball and is charged against the pitcher. As in the conventional game, four such bulls gives the batter his base. Any suitable device, such as colored disks or distin uishing articles may be employed by the payers as men to move over the bases to show the position of the players. Thus as far as the pitcher or player manipulating the gun 2+ is concerned, the batter is either struck out by him or given his base on balls. This calls into operation, a relatively large degree of skill on the part of the player. If the missile 10 strikes upon the. butt 18, it rebounds therefrom. The direction of rebound has a large element of chance due in part to the shape of the missile and to the variation in the angle at which the same strikes the face of the butt 18. If, in rebounding, the missile comes to rest in the spaces marked by the word F oul and avoids the danger areas designated therein by the letter C, the play would, as in the conventional game, be trcatedas a foul and as er the rules of the conventional game. f, on the other hand, the missile when rebounding from the butt 18 falls in the space marked by the motto, 1 base hit and avoids the danger areas thereon, the play would be treated as per the rules of the conventional game, as far as the batter is concerned and would result in the. movement of thefnmners on the bases in correspondence with the result, as far as the batter is concerned. That is to say, if a man was on 1st base and the batter was credited with the 1 base hit, thev runner on 1st base would be moved to 2nd base, or if on 2nd base, would be moved to 3rd ter out. If, on the failing to strike the it strikes the panel base, and so on. The same rule is followed where the missile rebounds from the butt 18 and comes to rest in the spaces marked respectively, 2 base hit, 3 base hit and Home run.

While we have herein shown the apparatus as adapted to the game of baseball, it will be understood that it may be employed in other games, such as war games, or other games of chance. Also where we have herein sho\vn the missile as of a regular shape. this may be varied varying the shape to obtain a more erratic action than provided by this shape. Also it will be uiu'lerstood that while we have preferred to use a relatively smooth surface on the board 9, this may be varied by covering the same with baize or felt, or the path of the, missile leaving the butt 18 may be interrupted by dents disposed laterally over the surface ol' the board 9. All of these variations are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims:

1. An apparatus as characterized comprising a field board marked to indicate surface areas having denominations in correspondence with the ame to be played; a butt mounted perpen icularly on said board said butt embodylng a target opening, sai opening being dis osed between the upper and lower ends 0 said butt; a missile for projection toward said butt, said missile being adapted to pass through said opening or to rebound from the surface of said butt when striking the same and to rest on said board; and manually-operated means for projecting said missile toward said butt.

2. An apparatus as characterized com- Gophs of this patent my be obtsinsd for in cents prising a field board marked to indicate surface areas having denominations in correspondence with the game to be played; a butt mounted perpendicularly on said board, said butt embodying a target opening, said opening being disposed centrally in said board; and a missile for projection toward said butt, said missile being adapted to pass through said opening or to rebound from the surface of said butt when striking the same.

In witness whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEONARD G. JERRAM. EMIL E. GLUCK. GEORGE HENSLE.

Witnesses:

LOUIS D. ROWLAND, DAVID W. FRIEDLANDER.

sash, by addressing ths "Commissioner 0! resents,

'Wssnhton, D. 0." 

